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nA long night reminiscing on the past. After chatting with the girls for a while longer and then making sure they were fine, Kai gathered his gift for Tsuki, along with a giant care package of wrapped baked goods and gifts from the girls and headed home.

nParking his car in the garage to his house, Kai walked inside his home. Carrying the bags in his left hand, he opened the door with his right and absently called out. “I’m home.”

nSilence.

nNothing but a dark and empty house.

nBut of course. Tsuki was staying over with Meggie, so the only one at home was Kai.

nHe walked in and set the bags down on the floor before turning on the lights. After that, he closed the door behind him and locked it. When that was done, Kai took a look around.

nA nice, suburban home in a peaceful neighborhood. Perfect for a family and raising children.

nExcept the only one there was him. Him and Tsuki.

nKai picked up the care package and walked over to the kitchen to put the baked goods away. Cakes, cookies, pastries… After going through the bags and seeing the colorful and carefully wrapped boxes, Kai couldn’t help but smile. “Those girls put too much effort into this.”

n‘Well, it just shows how much they care for you, right?’

nA soft whisper. A hauntingly familiar female voice from just behind him.

nKai flinched and spun around. The boxes in his hands started to fall, but he quickly steadied them and set them on the countertop. After that, he scanned the room.

nHe had only turned on the lights in the living room, so the house was mostly dark. Even so, he could see everything around. And there wasn’t anyone there but him.

nKai frowned and then muttered, “Was it just my imagination?”

nElise. That was who he had just heard.

nBut it was impossible.

nKai let out a bitter laugh and he said, “Maybe the girls were right. I really do need to relax more…”

nOr maybe it was just the time.

nNow that he thought about it… wasn’t it around Christmas when he first met Elise? Maybe the stress and free time were just pulling out all of those issues-

n“It wasn’t your fault, you know?”

nKai froze.

nThat time he was sure. A crystal clear voice. As if someone was talking from right behind him. A voice he thought he would never hear again.

nElise. It was Elise.

nBut it couldn’t be Elise.

nSo Kai didn’t turn around. He wanted to. He desperately hoped that it was real. But… But he knew it couldn’t be.

nAnd because of that, he let out a sigh and went back to put the wrapped baked goods away. Pointedly avoiding looking behind him, Kai turned to the bag at his side to pick out some more boxes. At least, that was what he intended.

nBut before he could grab one-

n“Here, Mister Yakuza.”

n-A beautiful blonde woman with a bright smile held one out towards him.

nKai’s eyes widened.

nElise giggled and said, “What is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

n“E-Elise…?”

nIt was impossible.

nIt should have been impossible.

nIt was absolutely, completely, a hundred percent impossible for her to be standing there. But…

nElise nodded, her smile fading a bit while her eyes teared up. “That’s right. It’s been… It’s been a long, long time, Mister Yakuza.” She walked forward.

nKai flinched and stepped back.

nElise reached out to grab his hand.

nWarm. Not cold like Kai expected if it was a ghost. And it was also solid. Meaning that he wasn’t hallucinating things.

n“…Am I dreaming?”

nStaring at Elise, Kai couldn’t help but wonder.

nTears ran down Elise’s cheeks and she shook her head. “If you are, then I am too. And if it is…” She stepped forward and hugged Kai. “…Let me dream a bit longer.”

nKai tensed, caught off-guard by the contact.

nIt was real. Her slender and warm arms. The soft scent of lilies.

nKai’s vision blurred and then he hugged her back. “I’m sorry.” He lowered his head and then started rambling. “I’m so sorry, Elise. I should have come back to visit. I shouldn’t have been so focused on revenge. I’m sorry, I’m so, so, so sorry…!”

n“It’s fine. I already knew my Mister Yakuza was like that. But… It was a bit lonely, you know?”

nKai sobbed and held Elise close.

nShe patted his back, trying to cheer him up. But it didn’t help much considering that she started crying as well.

n—–AI|IA—–

nStanding just outside of the slide doors of Kai’s house, Titor pulled out an old flip phone from his pocket. After opening it, he held it up to his ear and said, “It’s me. Operation Realta Nua is a success.”

nSilence. And then a long sigh echoed from the other side of the phone call. “First a time traveler, now a mage of flowers?”

nTitor looked up at the starry winter sky. As he did, a shooting star flew across. Seeing that, he smiled and said, “When you wish upon a star, it doesn’t make a difference who you are, you know?”

n“…I still think you’re enjoying roleplaying too much, but as long as things get done, I guess it’s fine.”

nTitor lowered his gaze and turned around, staring through the glass doors. Seeing Kai and Elise holding each other tight, he shook his head and started walking off. “In order to meet, two miracles must occur. One must keep waiting, and another must keep pursuing… Since those were fulfilled, it’s only natural to grant that wish, isn’t it? There’s enough causality built up to allow it.”

n“There better be. I would rather much not have a giant mess spring up on me over Christmas.”

nTitor walked out along the streets to Kichijoji and said, “You worry too much… Ah, and are we still on for the hotsprings trip after Christmas?”

nJohn sighed and said, “I wanted to. But it turns out that Suzume’s adoptive parents own that place and she’s reserved it for Prodigy to celebrate. They also want to stream over there, so it looks like you’re in for some overtime.”

nTitor clicked his tongue and said, “Making me do all of the work… Don’t you have any shame?”

n“I threw that away when I rejected everyone but Yue.”

n“Ah. True. Shameless bastard.”

n“Yep. But anyway, we’ll still be doing a Christmas party to exchange gifts, so don’t stay up too late with Amadeus.”

nTitor’s face warmed up and he said, “T-That’s none of your business what we do!”

n“True. You aren’t ‘me’ anymore.”

nTitor chuckled and said, “Be careful now. I might turn on you and say something like, ‘I am a shadow, the true-‘”

nA vortex, suddenly ripping open in front of Titor. From it, a figure that Titor had never seen before, but one that he remembered from John’s memories emerged.

n“…Self. Crap. Just had to jinx it.”

nA towering old man with regal emerald robes stood in the middle of the road. He dusted off his clothes and then looked around with sharp green eyes. “Hm. The air in this realm is quite hostile to foreign presences… How fortunate that We were invited. Though for both the laws of existence and the suppressive power to be this resilient… Just what manner of being created these lands?”

n“…Oi. You’re joking, right? Titor?”

nTitor hung up on John and slipped his phone away. As he did that, he started walking away, pretending he didn’t see the Jade Emperor.

nRight. All that he had to do was keep walking, and then-

n“Hold! You, mortal!”

nTitor froze. But then he slowly turned to the old man and tilted his head. Mustering up all the acting skills he’d been polishing since taking on the role of John Titor, he put on his best confused face.

nThe Jade Emperor walked over, holding his hands together in his sleeves. Looking down on Titor, he said, “This regal self seeks the abode of his peerless daughter and her foolhardy husband.”

nTitor cleared his throat and spoke up in English. “Sorry, man. I don’t speak Chinese.”

nThe Jade Emperor tilted his head before speaking in English as well. “This regal self is unaware of the language you call ‘Chinese.’ However, communication should be possible at this point. Or are you such a simpleton that you cannot understand even when this regal self translates to your native tongue?”

n‘So this is how that guy feels when I talk, huh?’

nThe Jade Emperor was talking in English. But unlike what Titor expected, he didn’t sound like an old Chinese elder speaking. Instead, while the Jade Emperor had the appearance of an ancient Chinese Emperor, his voice came out in a posh and suave English accent. Like Sir Ian McKellen.

nTitor laughed and rubbed the back of his head. “Sorry about that. I understand you now. But for an old man like you to know English… You’re pretty good, huh?”

n‘How the heck do I react around this guy?’

nShould Titor just take him back to meet John? That would be the smart thing to do, right?

n…Right. Yeah, that was the best thing. Let that guy sort things out.

nThe Jade Emperor nodded and said, “Good. Then this regal self will question you once more. This regal self seeks the abode of my peerless daughter and her foolhardy husband.” He paused and said, “…Perhaps it would be best to seek our foolhardy son-in-law first? This is his homeland, so his name should ring louder than our beloved daughter.”

nTitor tilted his head. “Who are you looking for again?”

nThe Jade Emperor looked up at the sky and then shook his head. “No matter. This regal self arrived later than expected, so We will seek them out come the morning. For now… Mortal. Direct us to the nearest inn.”

n…Alright. So maybe causality *wasn’t* completely enough to bring Elise back to life without creating a mess.

nGood to know.

n…Hopefully dealing with this Chuuni old man was the worst of it-

nAaaand that was a flag.

nDammit.

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